Chopped loyalties for old boy Ron Harris

THE local supping a pint at the bar recognised him instantly: “Hello Ron, how’s it going?”

The granite features creased into a grin and nodded. Ron Harris is still remembered fondly down Brentford way.

A Chelsea legend, probably the legend, and their first FA Cup-winning captain after that bone-crunching replay against arch-rivals Leeds in 1970, “Chopper” Harris left Stamford Bridge after a total of 795 games and played out the swansong of his career at Griffin Park from 1980, as player-coach under manager Fred Callaghan.

Brentford is tucked away in the Edwardian sidestreets of west London. The stand roof is the one you always see on the way into Heathrow, and this club have fought to exist in the capital’s football seemingly forever, with bigger and more glamorous clubs on every corner.

And, of course, equally famously, the only ground in England with a pub on every corner. For research purposes obviously, we had to visit all four – the Princess Royal, The Griffin, the Royal Oak and the New Inn.

We settled on the Princess for a quiet chat about tomorrow’s classic London FA Cup tie. Brentford v Chelsea at Griffin Park. And Harris is at its heart. “Obviously I always look for Chelsea’s results first, but then it is Brentford. I spent three happy years here and it is a great little club,” he said.

“When I joined as player-coach with Fred, they were in the old Third Division. A big difference from Chelsea.

“There, you stayed overnight everywhere. Here, it was only at Darlington or Hartlepool. We didn’t swap shirts – because we didn’t have enough. You took them home to wash them.

“But we had a good side. People such as Chris Kamara, Stan Bowles of course, and we brought in lads such as Terry Hurlock, who went on to have a great career. It’s always been hard for Brentford where they are. Chelsea, QPR and Fulham are all just down the road.”

Harris played 61 matches for the Bees, mostly acting as a minder to youngsters, in the middle of defence knocking the ball about, letting others do the running. Until someone tried to go past him, that is. “We had some characters there. Stan never used to come down to the dressing room until 2.45, because he was upstairs watching the racing,” he said.

“One time, the main stand burned down. We turned up for training the next day and Stan, who lived in a house that backed on to the ground, was swearing. ‘What’s up?’ we asked. He said: ‘If that fire had gone five yards further it would have burned the house down and I’d have copped a few bob on the insurance’.” But that is not to paint Brentford as some knockabout home for old lags.

A new 20,000-seater stadium is planned near Kew Bridge, and Chelsea will now find Uwe Rosler’s young and hungry promotion-chasing side tough opposition. They stand third in League One with only two defeats at home all season.

When I joined as player-coach with Fred, they were in the old Third Division. A big difference from Chelsea

Ron Harris

Harris said: “There will be about 11,000 in and a lot of volume. It will be great. I can see John Terry coming back for this one – it’s his sort of game. Uwe Rosler has Brentford playing good football. That though, might suit Chelsea. And they need it. The cup is their best chance of a trophy.”

After their Capital One Cup semi-final exit at Swansea, this takes on added significance for Rafa Benitez. Assuming the Premier League title is out of reach – Manchester United are 11 points ahead – it is just this cup and the Europa League left.

Harris said: “Rafa has got to go for this. He has to pick a strong side because this is his best chance of a trophy. If he can win the cup and finish third, his hat will be in the ring for the job. If you took an opinion poll of fans, 95 per cent would like Jose Mourinho back. They say never go back, but I’m sure if Jose had the offer then he would.”

But that is a long way ahead. First, for Chelsea tomorrow, they have to swipe away those pesky Bees.